Private equity firm eyes stake in All Blacks
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US private equity firm Silver Lake is in talks to acquire a stake in New Zealand’s All Blacks, according to reports.
The transaction would be for a stake of up to 15% in the three-time winners of the Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand's national treasure burned through nearly half of its cash reserves last year during Covid-19 lockdowns.
New Zealand Rugby has since been looking at other sources of funding.
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The All Blacks are New Zealand’s most recognisable sporting team and are one of the best-known brands in international Rugby.
The team won the Rugby World cup in 1987, 2011 and 2015, but lost to England in the semi-final of the 2019 world cup in Japan.
The talks with Silver Lake were first reported by Sky News, which said the deal for a 15% stake would value the team at about $2bn (£1.5bn).
Sky said a deal had not been concluded, but could be announced as soon as this month.
